No gun amnesty extension, Holness warns as initiative enters final hours

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday urged persons illegally in possession of firearms to turn the weapons in to the police or the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) ahead of today’s ending of a 14-day amnesty.

Holness said that the amnesty, which has been in place since November 5 and gives persons the opportunity to turn in weapons without charges, will not be extended.

In a release on Friday, Holness urged those in possession of unregistered weapons, or firearms falling in their possession by the death the licensed owner, or ammunition to avoid facing stiffer penalties when the new Firearms Act takes effect, which brings a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years for illegal possession of firearm.

Noting that more than 70 weapons had so far been handed over, the prime minister said that the security forces and the FLA have conducted the amnesty well and that there were no breaches of the guarantees of confidentiality and immunity from prosecution under the initiative.

“You can trust the process,” he said to those still harbouring fear.

“While it is good to take illegal guns off the street, the impact on the homicide rate is greater if the shooters are also caught and arrested,” Holness said, noting that when the amnesty ends, operations to find illegal weapons will intensify.

“I am making a solemn and urgent appeal to our young men in particular, please, I implore you, even at this late stage, turn in the guns. Illegal possession, use, trafficking, or storing, of an illegal firearms will effectively end your useful life when you are caught, but it will save the lives of hundreds of innocent and productive Jamaicans. ... You have been warned,” said Holness.